President's Remarks - Winter 2026

As we commence the new year, I am pleased to reflect on the significant accomplishments of the Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society (IRES) in 2025 and outline our strategic priorities for 2026.

2025 Achievements

Throughout the past year, IRES has facilitated meaningful engagement among members through various channels, including committee meetings, board sessions, executive committee gatherings, the Career Development Seminar in Houston, Texas, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners fall meeting in Hollywood, Florida. These interactions have consistently demonstrated the exceptional expertise our members contribute to support state, federal, and contractual regulators and stakeholders in regulatory enforcement.

Strategic Priorities for 2026

IRES remains committed to maintaining relevance and delivering essential support and services to our membership. To this end, the Executive Committee and various standing committees are undertaking several key initiatives:

Governance and Organizational Development: The Executive Committee has initiated a comprehensive review and revision of the organization's Bylaws. This process will continue over the coming months, with proposed updates to be presented to the Board of Directors for review and approval.

Professional Development and Designations: The Market Conduct Management/Advanced Market Conduct Management (MCM/AMCM) Committee has made substantial progress on the Behavioral Health Parity designation, having completed development of Cores 1 and 2. Additionally, this committee is advancing training programs focused on Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) regulatory compliance and enforcement — two critical areas of concern in health insurance regulation.

Membership Engagement: The Membership & Benefits Committee is conducting a thorough review of the State Chair Handbook to ensure alignment with current State Chair responsibilities. Following analysis of a 2025 survey of non-renewing members, the committee is working to establish an annual exit survey protocol to gather valuable feedback that will inform organizational improvements and enhance member retention.

Career Development Seminar: The CDS Committee is actively preparing for the August 2026 Career Development Seminar in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With less than eight months until the event, the committee is working diligently to ensure a valuable and engaging experience for all attendees.

Looking Ahead

Additional committee initiatives are underway and will be featured in subsequent editions of The Regulator. As we move forward into 2026, IRES remains dedicated to serving the evolving needs of our members and the regulatory community.

Warm regards,

Mary Nugent

President, IRES

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